No one will listen to me, being messed around by GP and sexual health clinic

[Lovemusic33]

I’m totally at the end of my tether, I’m depressed and exhausted due to ongoing women’s issues and my gp and sexual health clinic have been useless.

I have been bleeding almost continuously for 6 months, before that I had been spotting between periods, unable to have sex without bleeding and passing large clots when on my actual period. I have been back and forth to the go, given different contraceptive pills, different drugs to slow down bleeding and had been refused referral to gynaecologist. A few weeks ago I was advised to get a coil fitted and was told to call sexual health clinic to arrange fitting, I had to wait ages for a call back because you need to speak to a consultant first, they advised I went in for a STI check to rule out infection before getting the coil fitted, so a few weeks later I went in, had a full check up and was told that I had PID (pelvic inflammation disease) possibly caused by a STI and they gave me 3 lots of antibiotics whilst I waited for my test results, antibiotics made me really unwell and was unable to go outside in the sun. I was confused as to what they were telling me as I haven’t had sex for ages due to the issues I have been having. Anyway, my test results all came back clear, no sti, no infection. In the meantime I got my period and have been bleeding heavily non stop for 2 weeks, I am anaemic and feeling very depressed as I am unable to go about my normal life and obviously feeling very unwell.

I call the sexual health clinic back and ask for an appointment for the coil, they tell me I need another phone call from the consultant before booking me in, appointments are booked up so I have to call back Monday and will then get a call back anytime Monday (if I get an appointment). I work and can’t just wait all day for a phone call, I can’t take calls at work. So now I’m stuck, bleeding non stop, I can’t book time off work as Monday is my first day back after covid.

I have totally had enough, I’m just sat here crying 😢

Have you tried taking dairy out of your diet?

I agree that you need a gynae appointment and mirena coil is not a diagnosis...

Symptoms this severe may indicate that if endometriosis is present, there may also be adenomyosis. Adenomyosis is often missed because there is only one sure fire method of diagnosis, and that is to examine the uterus - which requires a hysterectomy first, a rather drastic way to obtain diagnosis in someone. Although it may be the ultimate option as well, it should not be sadly entered into. Adenomyosis is actually far more likely when there is heavy bleeding of the type described here. You can be unlucky and have both conditions.

I think this is very simple. But it takes guts. This is your body, and it is not for any doctor to tell you what treatment you must have, especially when they cannot give you a diagnosis. This is supposed to be medicine, not guesswork. And basically that is what you must tell them. Firmly and with confidence. You require a diagnosis, which they have not been able to provide, so you require a referral to a specialist, and if that is not forthcoming you will have to consider their refusal grounds for complaint to the local commissioners.

You have every right to refuse to accept treatment based on guesses. In fact anyone who blindly accepts treatment without knowing what that treatment is for, how it will help them with the diagnosed condition, and what their options are, is an idiot. All treatments carry risks, even small ones. They should not be carried out unless they are necessary. They cannot be deemed necessary when a doctor doesn't even know what is wrong!

I hate lazy medicine. It's strange how often it attaches to women.

occa I hope you get some answers too, I do feel like I’m on a long road towards a hysterectomy, I will try the coil but if that doesn’t work I will be begging for a hysterectomy, I’ve had enough of the heavy bleeding and feeling tired. It’s making it impossible to have a relationship (who’s going to want to be with someone who’s bleeding all the time and tired?). It does have a huge impact on your life.